Med-Surg I

[Lorien_LPN]

Hey fellow student, nurses, and instructors

I have just started my first week of Med-Surg I and so far I have been really busy with studying and keeping up with assignments to get ready to go to our clinical rotations. When in the med-surg setting as a student does anyone have any advice about how to get the most out of the rotation. Last semester we finished up our Foundations course where we spent out clinical time in nursing homes, although a good way to start by working with one patient and slowly transition to two I am defiantly not running to start a career in Long Term Care. Nothing wrong with it, just not my cup of tea.

Any advice is appreciated, and if anyone has any suggestions for supplies to carry that help in the med-surg setting that would also be appreciated.

[virgin_ns]

If you get to pick your own pt then pick one with either a lot of problems(Lots of paperwork) or someone that seems to have nothing at all wrong with them. During my Med-Surg rotation the pts I can't forget is are: 1) had HIV/AIDS w/ Anal Cancer that was some work there and he got all types of meds that needed to be hung and he want his pain meds q2hrs and u betta not b late with them either. He kept me busy great pt though. 20) This lady came in for abd pain that's it and she had HBP. When I got there they had just done a CT and found out that she had an abdominal aneurysm(excuse my spelling) and I was like what I haven't gotten to that chapter in the book yet. But I was able to go on the web and look things up for her. She and I both were nervous. But it was exciting, My instructor said I was too much trouble at the end of my rotation cause I got the most unusual pt. I didn't do it on purpose. And if you don't get to pick your own pt and ur pt is not a needy one volunteer to help ur classmates and stand in the halls cause some nurses love students and will grab u to do different things. So don't hide out in the lounge. Good Luck. I'm goin into Med-Surg 2 and I am nervous as heck.

[Selene006, BSN, LPN]

Try not to fall behind in your readings and seek out upper-class nursing students. They've been through the rough-n-tumble that you're enduring now and they can give you great tips about preparation for clinicals as well as lecture content. Med/Surg wasn't my cup of tea either, but it's the foundation for the other nursing specialties. Take the time to fine-tune your assessment skills with these patients--it will make for an easier transition as you complete the curriculum. Good luck!